Mianus
River Bridge Collapsed
1983
According to one federal safety inspector, the Mianus River Bridge in Connecticut let out an eerie "wail" just before breaking apart on June 28, 1983. The undetected fracture of a connecting pin concealed beneath the roadway caused the collapse, which killed three. In response to the disaster, state officials established a system of remote bridge monitoring. Using sensors that measure tilt, strain, temperature, and movement, inspectors can constantly monitor a bridge's behavior and anticipate problems. The system is currently in use on several Connecticut bridges.
